i think we all know that every income tax filer in america is going to pay higher rates come january the 1st unless congress acts. >> we look to find the answer to solve the problem on the spending issue here in washington. the president is not yet there, he has not come to where he needs to be in order for us to push through a bill that really does begin to address the problem. and can as the speaker said -- and as the speaker said, that's why we are now discussing an alternative plan if the president and the white house cannot come our way. >> reporter: so republicans insist they are going to continue to negotiate in good faith, but they're concerned that the president hasn't compromised enough on real series spending reductions -- serious spending reductions, has them offering not a new counteroffer, but a plan b should negotiations on the overall deal break down. and that, they say, would deal only with the tax cuts. the white house is utterly objecting it and, frankly, they're trying to cast it as a counteroffer. they're saying this is what the republicans are now talking about,